MPA 210 Strategic Planning Management

1. STRENGHTS
BASED
LEADERSHIP
MONICQUE A BINABISE
NOVEMBER 11, 2023
MPA 210
Leading With Your Strengths ; A
Guide To The 34 Themes

2. 01
Strengths-Based leadership
Focuses on recognizing what you and your
team excel at, and delegating tasks to those
who are strong in areas where you are
weak. Strengths can be grouped into four
broad groups: executing, influencing,
relationship building, and strategic thinking.
In the 2009 book, "Strengths Based
Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and
Why People Follow," workplace
consultants Tom Rath and Barry Conchie
argue that the most successful teams
possess a broad range of abilities. When
you know each of your team members' key
strengths, you can apply them in a way
that benefits the team as a whole.
2/20/2024 https://www.mindtools.com/alktajz/strengths-based-leadership 2

3. The StrengthsFinder® test, developed by the Gallup® organization
(famous for its Gallup® polls) first came into the public eye in 2001,
thanks to the publication of Now, Discover Your Strengths. The self-
help book was written by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton,
who was the chairman of Gallup®.
Based on the notion that every person has certain strengths,
StrengthsFinder® has broken these strengths into 34 categories, or
themes. Each of the 34 strengths falls into one of four domains
(areas): Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic
Thinking.
The StrengthsFinder® test identifies a person’s top 5 strengths, and it
is based on “positive psychology,” or what is “right” about people, not
“wrong” with them.
In 2004, the name of the personality assessment was changed to
“Clifton StrengthsFinder®,” in order to pay tribute to Don Clifton, who
died in 2003.
Recently, the StrengthsFinder® name has been changed to
CliftonStrengths® assessment, but the actual test remains the same.
2/20/2024 https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253715/34-cliftonstrengths-themes.aspx 3
History of Strengths-based leadership

4. 34 CLIFTON STRENGHTS THEMES
2/20/2024 https://students.otc.edu/careerservices/strengthsquest-strengths/#1470339621474-1257a114-b75c 4

5. INFLUENCING
ACTIVATOR
People exceptionally talented in the Command
theme have presence. They can take control of a
situation and make decisions.
.
People exceptionally talented in the
Competition theme measure their
progress against the performance of
others.They strive to win first place
and revel in contests
.
People exceptionally talented in the Maximizer
theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate
personal and group excellence. They seek to
transform something strong into something
superb.
People exceptionally talented in the Woo
theme love the challenge of meeting new
people and winning them over.They derive
satisfaction from breaking the ice and making
a connection with someone.
.
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COMMAND
COMMUNICATION
COMPETITION
MAXIMIXER
SELF-
ASSURANCE
SIGNIFICANCE
WOO
People exceptionally talented in the
Activator theme can make things
happen by turning thoughts into action.
They want to do things now rather than
simply talk about them.
People exceptionally talented in the
Communication theme generally find it easy to
put their thoughts into words.They are good
conversationalists and presenters.
People exceptionally talented in the Self-
Assurance theme feel confident in their ability
to take risks and manage their own lives. They
have an inner compass that gives them
certainty in their decisions.
People exceptionally talented in the
Significance theme want to make a big impact.
They are independent and prioritize projects
based on how much influence they will have on
their organization or people around them.
.

6. STRATEGICTHINKING
ANALYTICAL
People exceptionally talented in the Context
theme enjoy thinking about the past. They
understand the present by researching its
history.
.
People exceptionally talented in the
Ideation theme are fascinated by
ideas.They are able to find
connections between seemingly
disparate phenomena.
People exceptionally talented in the Input
theme have a need to collect and archive. They
may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or
even relationships.
People exceptionally talented in the Strategic
theme create alternative ways to proceed.
Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly
spot the relevant patterns and issues.
.
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CONTEXT
FUTURISTIC
IDEATION
INPUT
INTELLECTION
LEARNER
STRATEGIC
People exceptionally talented in the
Analytical theme search for reasons
and causes. They have the ability to
think about all of the factors that might
affect a situation
People exceptionally talented in the Futuristic
theme are inspired by the future and what
could be.They energize others with their
visions of the future.
.
People exceptionally talented in the
Intellection theme are characterized
by their intellectual activity.They are
introspective and appreciate
intellectual discussions.
People exceptionally talented in the Learner
theme have a great desire to learn and want to
continuously improve.The process of learning,
rather than the outcome, excites them.
.

7. EXECUTING
ACHIEVER
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ARRANGER
BELIEF
CONSISTENCY
DELIBERATIVE
DISCIPLINE
FOCUS
RESPONSIBILITY
People exceptionally talented in
the Achiever theme work hard
and possess a great deal of
stamina. They take immense
satisfaction in being busy and
productive.
People exceptionally talented in the
Arranger theme can organize, but they
also have a flexibility that complements
this ability.They like to determine how
all of the pieces and resources can be
arranged for maximum productivity.
RESTORATIVE
People exceptionally talented in
the Restorative theme are adept
at dealing with problems.They
are good at figuring out what is
wrong and resolving it.
People exceptionally talented in
the Focus theme can take a
direction, follow through and
make the corrections necessary
to stay on track.They prioritize,
then act.
People exceptionally talented in
the Deliberative theme are best
described by the serious care they
take in making decisions or
choices. They anticipate
obstacles.
People exceptionally talented in
the Belief theme have certain
core values that are unchanging.
Out of these values emerges a
defined purpose for their lives.
People exceptionally talented in
the Responsibility theme take
psychological ownership of what
they say they will do.They are
committed to stable values such
as honesty and loyalty.
People exceptionally talented in
the Discipline theme enjoy
routine and structure.Their world
is best described by the order
they create.
People exceptionally talented in
the Consistency theme are keenly
aware of the need to treat people
the same. They crave stable
routines and clear rules and
procedures that everyone can
follow.

8. RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
ADAPTABILITY
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CONNECTEDNESS
DEVELOPER
EMPHATY
HARMONY
INCLUDER
INDIVIDUALI-
ZATION
POSITIVITY
People exceptionally talented in
the Adaptability theme prefer to
go with the flow.They tend to be
"now" people who take things as
they come and discover the
future one day at a time.
People exceptionally talented in the
Connectedness theme have faith in
the links among all things.They
believe there are few coincidences
and that almost every event has
meaning.
RELATOR
People exceptionally talented in the
Relator theme enjoy close relationships
with others. They find deep satisfaction
in working hard with friends to achieve
a goal.
People exceptionally talented in
the Individualization theme are
intrigued with the unique qualities
of each person.They have a gift
for figuring out how different
people can work together
productively.
People exceptionally talented in
the Harmony theme look for
consensus. They don't enjoy
conflict; rather, they seek areas of
agreement.
People exceptionally talented in the
Developer theme recognize and
cultivate the potential in others.They
spot the signs of each small
improvement and derive satisfaction
from evidence of progress.
People exceptionally talented in
the Positivity theme have
contagious enthusiasm. They are
upbeat and can get others excited
about what they are going to do.
People exceptionally talented in
the Includer theme accept others.
They show awareness of those
who feel left out and make an
effort to include them.
People exceptionally talented in
the Empathy theme can sense
other people's feelings by
imagining themselves in others'
lives or situations.
.

9. KEY POINTS
Strengths-based leadership focuses on recognizing what you and your
team excel at, and delegating tasks to those who are strong in areas
where you are weak.
Strengths can be grouped into four broad groups: executing, influencing,
relationship building, and strategic thinking.
A strengths-based leadership approach can improve your delegation
skills, increase team diversity, and create a more consensual leadership
style.
However, be careful not to ignore your team members' weaknesses. If
left unchecked, they can undermine an otherwise cohesive team.
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10. References
• https://www.mindtools.com/alktajz/strengths-based-leadership
• [1] Rath, T. & Conchie, B. (2008). 'Strengths Based Leadership:
Great Leaders, Teams, And Why People Follow,' Gallup Press.
• [2] Brim, B. and Asplund, J. (2009). 'Driving Engagement by
Focusing on Strengths,' Gallup Business Journal.
• https://strengthscoachingandtraining.com/strengthsfinder-clifton-
strengths-assessment/history-of-
strengthsfinder/#:~:text=To%20come%20up%20with%20the,refer%20to
%20them%20as%20strengths.
• https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253754/history-
cliftonstrengths.asp
• https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253715/34-cliftonstrengths-
themes.aspxhttps://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253715/34-
cliftonstrengths-themes.aspx
2/20/2024 10
THANK YOU